Brace bar securing means for prefabricated tubular structures



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INVENTOR. HERZ/6 8 JESSUP,

MARVIN M. MAY,

BY A 7' TURA/EVS.

,United States Patent BRACE BAR SECURING MEANS FOR PREFABRI- CATED TUBULAR STRUCTURES Marvin M. May, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Tubular AStructures Corp. of America, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Apr. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 730,987

4 Claims. (Cl. 287-535) This invention relates to tubular structures and more particularly to prefabricated tubular structures and still more particularly to prefabricated tubular structures of the knock-down type and has for its object the provision of an improved means for detachably securing together the load-supporting standards of such prefabricated tubular structures.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for detachably securing together the loadsupporting elements of a knock-down tubular structure, such asscaifolds and the like. Y

Still another object is to provide a means integrally mounted onthe tubular structure of the knock-down type for detachably securing the load-supporting standards together.

A further object is-to provide an improved scaffold of the knock-down prefabricated type.

Other objects will be apparent as the invention is more fully hereinafter disclosed.

In accordance with these objects, I have devised an .improved means for detachably securing together the component parts of a prefabricated tubular structure, such as the load-supporting standards of a scaffold, which means is adapted to be permanently mounted upon the load-supporting standards of the tubular structure. One specic embodiment of the improved means of the present invention is illustrated in the drawings by way of example but not as a limitation.

:In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one type of a prefabricated knock-down tubular scaffold structure improved in accordance with the ,present invention;

yFig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the improved means o'f the .present invention taken along plane 2--2 of Fig. 1 showing the means in one operating position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along plane 3--3 of IFig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a broken away sectional View along plane 2-2 of Fig. l showingl the improved means of the present invention in a second operating position.

The specific embodiment shown in the drawings disfcloses the improved means of the present invention `as it has been adapted for utility in a prefabricated tubular Vstructure of the type known in the art as a scatald.

In Vthis type of tubular snucture, as indicated in Fig. l, the scatold is comprised of a plurality of pairs of vertically sustained load carrying members consistingr of tubular standards S-S, secured together in parallel spaced relation by tubular cross-bars C-C and center vertical tubular upright D with or without associated tub- -u'lar cross-bar -members E-E', 'the Aplurality of pairs of load carrying members mS-S vbeing detachably .secured y together i'n parallel -spaced relation by (brace-bars B-.B'

detachably secured at each endY to the standards S-S (S-S') adjacent the top and bottom of the standards S-S (S-S') by a securing means M, improved in ac oordance with the present invention.

'I'he means M, in conformity with the present invention, is comprised essentially of a pair of parallel spaced pins 10--10 having one end secured to the standard S, with each provided adjacent the opposite end thereof with a transverse slide pin opening 15-15 of substam tially the same size, shape and conliguration. The means securing the ends of the pins 10-10' in parallel spaced relation to the standard S adjacent one end of the standard S may vary widely without departure from the invention. The pins 10--10 are mounted on the stand-l ard S in such manner as to dispose the slide openings 15-15 in axial alignment and lying in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the standard S. A slide pin means 16 is slidably mounted in the aligned slide pin openings 15-15, the length of said slide pin means 16 being substantially greater Vthan the distance between the two pins lll-10'. An extension 17 is provided on the inside face of the slide pin means 16, the width of said extension being such that it snugly engages the side of the perforated end 22 of a brace bar B mounted on the lower pin 10' substantially as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, to hold the bar B against undue lateral movement on pin 10.

In the specific embodiment shown in the drawings, the Slide pin 16 comprises a tongue slide pin i6 as a preferred type. It is believed obvious, however, that other types of slide pins 16 may be employed without de'- partnre from the invention. The type of slide pin 16 shown is readily adapted tol be formed from strip or sheet metal, such as an'iron or steel alloy and the thickness of the same may be readily adapted to any diameter of pin lll-10.

With reference to pins 10-10', the diameter of the pins may be varied widely without essential departure from the invention to adapt same for application to various sizes of tubular standards S-S. In general, for most prefabricated scaffold structures of the type illustrated in the drawings the tubular standards S-S are comprised of steel pipe of approximately ls/s inches Voutside diameter and 1.445 inches inside diameter. With this size standard the pins 10-10 are each about i/ inch in diameter. With this size pin and for this size scaffold structure the slide tongue-pin 16 is comprised of a 1A; inch strip of steel approximately 5%; inch in width. The preferred spacing between the pins lil- 10' on the standard is approximately 2 inches. With this spacing between the pins iti-lil the slide tongue-pin 16 is provided with a length approximating 3% inches. The slide pin openings 15-15' are rectangular in lcross-section loosely conforming to the rectangular cross-section of the slide tongue-pin 16.

The particular manner by which the pins 10-10 are secured in desired spaced relation to the standard AS may be widely varied `w/.thont essential departure from the invention as one skilled in the art will recognize.

In the arrangementvshown, the pins 10-10 are pref erably lirst Vsecured to a back-bar 11 in desired spaced relation with the slide openings 15-15 therein in axial alignment and the back-bar 11 thereafter is secured to the standard S in any desired manner, as by welding as indicated at 12-12. This arrangement hasbeen vfound to be the most economically practical method for mounting the pins lil-10 upon the standard S and is of par` ticular lutility where the means M is to vbe marketed as a v manual engagement. of anyY desired size, shape and configuration.

-specic embodiment the extensions 18.-1,9 are shown 'as Yextension 17.

3 shown in the drawing a length of round or square bar steel stock is formed by either hot or cold forming methods into a substantially U-shaped member with the extendingv arms thereof forming the pins -7-10 extending in the desired parallel spaced relationship therefrom. The extending arms are cut off to provide the desired pin length, the slide openings -15 are made therein, tongue slide pin 16 is mounted in the slide openings 15-15 and the wedge extensionv 17 is then secured to the side edge of the tongue slide pin 16 in any convenient manner, as by welding. Where round stock is employed in the forming of this unitary structure the outer face of the bight section 11 of' the structure is flattened during the forming operation, preferably slightly concaved, to adapt the' section 11to seat itself tightly onto the rounded surfaceof the standard S. Similarly, where bar stock is employed, the outer surface of the bight section 11 is concaved during the forming operation to seat on the rounded surface of the standard S.

It is believed obvious that various alternative means for securing the bight section 11 to the standard S in substitution for the weldrjoints 12-12' may be employed without substantial departure from the invention and that within the scope of the invention the means employed may be either a means for xedly securing or a means for detachably securing the bight section 11 to the standard S.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4it will be noted that two operating positions of the tongue slide 16 are disclosed therein. The distance between the edge of slide tongue 16 and the face of the bight section 11 is preferably selected with respect to the thickness of the perforated tlattened end 22 of the brace-bar VTB to be approximately equal to twicev this thickness and the width of the extension 17 is preferably selected to be approximately equal to the thickness of the flattened end 22. With this arrangement it will be noted that, as shown in Fig. 2, with only one end 22 mounted on the pin 10 the Vslide tongue 16 may be lowered in its slide opening 15 to a position wherein the outer face of the extension 17 secures the end 22 on the pin 10. When the slide tongue 16 is in this position it is frequently desirable'to secure the slide tongue 1'6 against vertical movement. To provide for this a pin opening 2t) is provided in the slide tongue 16 in a position adjacent to the under face of the pin 10'l into which a pin may be inserted to prevent vertical movement of the slide tongue 16 Vin the slide opening 15'.

Where two said attened ends 22--22 are mounted on the pin 10', as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the slide tongue 16 can only be lowered inthe slide opening 15 tothe point where the extension 17 rests upon the ltop of one of the ends 22. In this position of the slide tongue 16 the side edge of the slide tongue 16 secures the ends 22-22 upon the pin 10. VTo secure the slide tongue 16 from vertical displacement a second pin opening 21 is provided in the tongue endY inY a position to adapt a pin inserted therein to engage the under face of the pin 10 to restrain vertical movement of the slide tongue 16; v

To facilitate the raising and lowering of the slide tongue 16 the extension 17 is provided with at least one, and preferably two, side extensions 18-19 providing for These extensions 18-19 may be In the bent over sections of the upper and'lower edges of the Various other substantially equivalent raising and lowering means may be provided, however.

Ywithout essential departure from the invention. Y

It is believed apparent that in operation the plurality e 2,971,7se

of means M of the present invention locatedras indicated in Fig. l and adjacent4 each end of the standards S-S' are adapted to secure the attened perforated ends 22 of the plurality of cross-bars B upon the standards S-S in the scaffold structure shown with substantial ease and facility by lifting theaslide tongue 16 out of engagement with the slide opening 15' in pin 10 to a horizontal level permitting the attened ends 22 tofb' mounted on the pin 10. On lowering the slide tongue 16 into engagement with its slide opening 15 the ends 22-22 then are secured in position Von the pin 10 against lateral displacement thereon. The'frictional engagement of either the extension 17 or theside edge of the tongue 16 with thek ends 22-22' effectively restrain the ends 22--22 against rotative movement on the pin 10' thereby stabilizing vthe scaffold structure against side sway in both directions. When the slide tongues 16 are restrained against vertical movement by pins disposed on openings 20 or 21 the Yentire 4scaffold structure is secured against side sway. f

It is believed apparent that many modifications, changes and substitutions may be made in the invention as illustrated in the specilic embodiment of the drawings as hereinabove described without essential departure from the nature and scope of the present invention and all such are contemplated as may fall within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for securing the perforated end of a bracebar to a vertically upright standard, said means comprising a substantially U-shaped member, the bight section of said member being securedonto said standard with the U-arms thereofrextendng outwardly therefrom in alignment with the longitudinal axis of said standard, the lower of said arms having' a size, shape and contiguration to permit the perforated brace-bar end to be seated thereon, 'slide pin openings adjacent the ends of said U-arrns, the axes of said slide pin openings being coincident and lying in thev same plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the standard, a slide pin disposed in said slide pin openings the length thereof being substantially greater than the spacing therebetween and an extension on the inner face' of said slide pin having a width adapted to slidinglyfengage a brace-bar end engaged on said lower U-arm to engage and hold the brace bar substantially against said bight portion. Y f

2. The means vof claim l, the length of saidrlower U-arm being substantially equal to twice the thickness of said brace-bar end between the inner edge of said slide pin and the inner face of said bight section and the width of said extension Vbeing substantially equal tothe thickness of one said brace-bar end andthe length of said slide pin below said extension engaging in and extending below 'aV slide pin opening in the lower said U- arm when the said wedge extension rests upon one said brace-bar end.

3. The means o-claim 1, pin openingsin the extending end of said slide pin below the -said lower U-arm, said pin vopenings. being located in positions, whereby a pin member inserted therein secures the slide pin against longitudinal movement in the slide pin opening.

4. The means of'claim 1, said bight section being provided with a concaved outer face for the face to engage the cylindrical surface of a tubular standard.

References Cited in the tile of this patent. UNITED STATES PATENTS f Ashenfelter Jan. 71, 195o Albrecht et al. Apr. 2l, 1953 Rapoport et al. Apr; 2,2, 1958 

